As Malta’s economy continues to mature and diversify, conversations around capital are evolving.
More than ever before, business owners are looking beyond brick-and-mortar expansion and traditional forms of investment.
The island’s shores are no longer the end point for most entrepreneurial ambition.
Internationalisation stories are becoming increasingly commonplace and, beyond access to finance, Malta’s business community is focusing more intently on how enterprises are built, scaled and governed for long-term success.
For Albert Alsina, Founder and CEO of Mediterrania Capital Partners, this is precisely where private equity (PE) can play a transformative role for Malta.
An internationally recognised thought leader in private equity, Alsina has spent decades operating at the intersection of strategy, operations and investment across global markets.
Before founding Mediterrania Capital Partners in 2013, he held senior executive roles within multinational organisations, gaining first-hand experience of what drives performance inside growing companies.
That operational grounding has shaped his investment philosophy that is outlined in his recently published book, Value Creation in Private Equity.
At the heart of Alsina’s thinking is a simple, but often overlooked, idea: private equity creates its real impact not at entry or exit, but in what happens in between.
“Capital alone does not transform companies,” Alsina says. “Value is created through people, governance, clarity of purpose and the discipline to improve how businesses operate every day.”
In ‘Value Creation in Private Equity’, Alsina outlines a structured eight-step framework for driving performance in portfolio companies. Rather than focusing narrowly on financial engineering, the book explores how leadership alignment, organisational culture, governance, innovation and operational excellence contribute to long-term enterprise value.
“This is my guide – based on first-hand experience – on how to successfully turn businesses into enterprises with Billion Dollar valuations,” he said.
These principles, Alsina believes, are just as relevant for Maltese businesses as they are for companies operating in larger or more established markets.
For Malta, where many businesses remain founder-led and growth is often organic, Alsina sees an opportunity to position private equity as a constructive partner: one that supports entrepreneurs rather than replaces them.
“A strong private equity culture respects founders,” he notes.
“It helps professionalise businesses, prepares companies for their next phase of growth, and ensures that value creation is sustainable rather than short-lived.”
Why Malta, and why now?
Malta’s economic landscape has changed significantly over the past decade.
A growing number of mid-sized companies are now operating internationally, navigating increasingly complex regulatory environments and competing for talent on a global stage.
According to Alsina, these dynamics make the case for private equity stronger — not weaker.
“Malta has entrepreneurial talent,” he says, “but it also needs institutional capital paired with know-how. Private equity can help bridge that gap by introducing robust governance, strategic discipline and a long-term perspective.”
Crucially, Alsina stresses that building a private equity ecosystem is not about replicating models from London or New York. Instead, it requires adapting global best practice to Malta’s scale, culture and business realities.
That belief underpins his involvement in PEVCA, which was established in 2024 to promote a deeper understanding of private capital, encourage responsible investment practices, and foster dialogue between investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers.
“Ecosystems are built through dialogue,” Alsina says. “If we want private equity to play a positive role in Malta, expectations need to be aligned — between investors, founders and institutions.”
The upcoming PEVCA fireside chat, to be held at Casino Maltese on February 24, 2026, will bring together investors, business leaders and advisors to explore the role private equity can play in Malta’s future economy.
The aim is to move the conversation beyond transactions, focusing instead on education, shared standards and long-term value creation.
Read a recent interview with Albert Alsina on The Business Picture.
